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Grain Free Pet Treats!

If you have pets and you like to give them treats, then I’m in good company. Here at BrightHaven, we have three dogs, one cat, six pond fish, one betta fish and several honeybees. To say that our pets are important is an understatement. All of the mammals are on a grain free diet, mostly raw meats and vegetables. They like it just a little.

The problem with feeding the animals a healthier diet is the same problem we humans have when we eat a healthier diet. Well, the same TWO problems.

reading the labels. ugh

price

Once you start reading the labels on pet food, you can never un-see it. What animal in its right mind willingly eats defatted wheat germ, corn meal and corn syrup?? So, you start reading labels and discover that it’s near to impossible to buy any kind of dog or cat treat that is grain and garbage free and still within the budget. Fifteen or so dollars for a bag of treats anyone? I think not!

Our dogs regularly eat pumpkin and yogurt and eggs and honey and peanut butter so I decided to blend up all these things and make a super treat that I would feel fine giving them AND that they would enjoy. So, here’s kind of a recipe if you would like to make your own grain free treats. I say kind of because absolutely nothing was measured.

pumpkin puree (not pie puree)

whole milk yogurt, greek style is best

egg(s) depending on size of batch

cinnamon, sprinkled

honey, drizzled

peanut butter, dollop

flax-seed meal

I mixed up all of these ingredients in a soup bowl and added flax seed meal until the mixture was slightly stiff. I measured the batter out by the spoonful and baked on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet until treats were crisp on the outside and slightly chewy in the middle. My taste-testers said they were fabulous.

So, there you have it. Feel free to experiment. Let me know if you find something that works well for your pups. I will definitely be making these again.

She Who Loves a Garden

In my garden there is a large place for sentiment. My garden of flowers is also my garden of thoughts and dreams. The thoughts grow as freely as the flowers, and the dreams are as beautiful. ~Abram L. Urban